Tom Tryon: The Pines' new opportunity to innovate

Published: Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 18, 2013 at 7:36 p.m.

Months ago, while driving by the Pines of Sarasota, I noticed a "for sale" sign on an adjacent property -- an eight-acre wasteland, the former site of a cement plant.

The Pines of Sarasota, for those who don't know, is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that provides vital services -- assisted living, skilled nursing home care, secure residences for dementia patients and physical therapy.

These high-quality services are available even though 70 percent of the Pines' residents are on Medicaid -- the federal/state social insurance program for low-income Floridians and those who have expended their savings on costly care. That percentage of Medicaid patients is, Pines officials say, the highest in Southwest Florida.

I have a high regard for the Pines and its longtime commitment to providing patients excellent care, regardless of their ability to pay, while offering employees good salaries and benefits.

The organization, located on North Orange Avenue in Sarasota, is an invaluable -- and undervalued -- asset. Its value is likely to increase as governments reduce Medicaid reimbursement rates to providers, whether for-profit or nonprofit, and the aging of baby boomers increases demand for services.

So, when I saw the for-sale sign posted at the dusty-white plant site immediately south of the Pines, this question came to mind: Would it be a good idea for the organization to try to purchase the land for future expansion?

Later that day, I called John Overton, chief executive of the Pines and a fixture in the community. As administrative leader of the Pines and a former vice president of the Florida Health Care Association, which represents assisted-living facilities and nursing homes across the state, Overton has written compelling guest columns for the Herald-Tribune and been a forthright source of information about elderly care.

"John," I said over the phone. "Is it crazy to think that the Pines should buy the cement plant property that's up for sale?"

"No, it's not crazy," he said.

Anyone who knows Overton knows that, while he is a bright man, he is also incredibly polite.

"Are you sure it's not crazy?" I asked again.

No, Overton said, again.

The Pines was already looking to buy the property, he added; in fact, it had been on the organization's radar for several years.

That response was gratifying because:

• It was a welcome affirmation that my brief observation and spur-of-the-moment idea had merit in the view of someone whose knowledge I respect. (Not all of my queries get a positive reply.)

• If the purchase were made, it would provide the Pines with not only a chance to expand but an opportunity to innovate.

Fast forward:

On Jan. 1, Michael Braga of the Herald-Tribune reported that a subsidiary of the Pines had purchased the eight-acre site for $1.9 million -- a hefty sum, but a bargain compared to the asking price just a few years ago.

On Friday, Barbara Peters-Smith from the Herald-Tribune newsroom and I talked with Overton and George Manser, chairman of the Pines board of directors, about the acquisition and the potential for the site.

The Pines, they emphasized, is in no rush to develop the land. The administration and the board of directors want to obtain community input and support for any endeavor; an engagement campaign will be forthcoming. Good.

Yet some possibilities seem apparent. For instance, there would be room on the site for creation of a campus-style community that offers an even-broader enable seniors to more easily make the transition to assisted living.

Such facilities exist but are generally costly, out of the reach of moderate- and low-income seniors and their families. Affordable, economically sustainable options will be vital -- especially if holes in the social safety net grow and, as Overton predicts, elder care becomes less attractive to for-profit companies

There will be no shortage of individual and community needs for the Pines to meet.

But this purchase offers an opportunity for the organization and the community to consider and support new ideas.

For example, could expanded facilities become a site for academic research, which creates jobs and attracts grants, for the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee or Florida State University?

Could the Pines supplement its training partnerships with State College of Florida and other schools? Could it be a place where businesses, attracted by the Sarasota-based Institute for the Ages, test products and provide state-of-the-art advice on elderly-friendly designs and living conditions?

Yes, Overton said, these examples of collaboration could and should be under consideration.

What's more, could this project serve as an economic-development initiative? Could it be a model for cooperation in fund-raising, involving the Pines' foundation and other philanthropic groups? How could the public sector contribute through funding, to meet pressing social needs, or in-kind services and political support? Could it be a national model for community collaboration?

I don't know the answers, but am confident the questions are worth asking.

<p>Months ago, while driving by the Pines of Sarasota, I noticed a "for sale" sign on an adjacent property -- an eight-acre wasteland, the former site of a cement plant.</p><p>The Pines of Sarasota, for those who don't know, is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that provides vital services -- assisted living, skilled nursing home care, secure residences for dementia patients and physical therapy.</p><p>These high-quality services are available even though 70 percent of the Pines' residents are on Medicaid -- the federal/state social insurance program for low-income Floridians and those who have expended their savings on costly care. That percentage of Medicaid patients is, Pines officials say, the highest in Southwest Florida.</p><p>I have a high regard for the Pines and its longtime commitment to providing patients excellent care, regardless of their ability to pay, while offering employees good salaries and benefits.</p><p>The organization, located on North Orange Avenue in Sarasota, is an invaluable -- and undervalued -- asset. Its value is likely to increase as governments reduce Medicaid reimbursement rates to providers, whether for-profit or nonprofit, and the aging of baby boomers increases demand for services.</p><p>So, when I saw the for-sale sign posted at the dusty-white plant site immediately south of the Pines, this question came to mind: Would it be a good idea for the organization to try to purchase the land for future expansion?</p><p>Later that day, I called John Overton, chief executive of the Pines and a fixture in the community. As administrative leader of the Pines and a former vice president of the Florida Health Care Association, which represents assisted-living facilities and nursing homes across the state, Overton has written compelling guest columns for the Herald-Tribune and been a forthright source of information about elderly care.</p><p>"John," I said over the phone. "Is it crazy to think that the Pines should buy the cement plant property that's up for sale?"</p><p>"No, it's not crazy," he said.</p><p>Anyone who knows Overton knows that, while he is a bright man, he is also incredibly polite.</p><p>"Are you sure it's not crazy?" I asked again.</p><p>No, Overton said, again.</p><p>The Pines was already looking to buy the property, he added; in fact, it had been on the organization's radar for several years.</p><p>That response was gratifying because:</p><p>• It was a welcome affirmation that my brief observation and spur-of-the-moment idea had merit in the view of someone whose knowledge I respect. (Not all of my queries get a positive reply.)</p><p>• If the purchase were made, it would provide the Pines with not only a chance to expand but an opportunity to innovate.</p><p>Fast forward:</p><p>On Jan. 1, Michael Braga of the Herald-Tribune reported that a subsidiary of the Pines had purchased the eight-acre site for $1.9 million -- a hefty sum, but a bargain compared to the asking price just a few years ago.</p><p>On Friday, Barbara Peters-Smith from the Herald-Tribune newsroom and I talked with Overton and George Manser, chairman of the Pines board of directors, about the acquisition and the potential for the site.</p><p>The Pines, they emphasized, is in no rush to develop the land. The administration and the board of directors want to obtain community input and support for any endeavor; an engagement campaign will be forthcoming. Good.</p><p>Yet some possibilities seem apparent. For instance, there would be room on the site for creation of a campus-style community that offers an even-broader enable seniors to more easily make the transition to assisted living.</p><p>Such facilities exist but are generally costly, out of the reach of moderate- and low-income seniors and their families. Affordable, economically sustainable options will be vital -- especially if holes in the social safety net grow and, as Overton predicts, elder care becomes less attractive to for-profit companies</p><p>There will be no shortage of individual and community needs for the Pines to meet.</p><p>But this purchase offers an opportunity for the organization and the community to consider and support new ideas.</p><p>For example, could expanded facilities become a site for academic research, which creates jobs and attracts grants, for the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee or Florida State University?</p><p>Could the Pines supplement its training partnerships with State College of Florida and other schools? Could it be a place where businesses, attracted by the Sarasota-based Institute for the Ages, test products and provide state-of-the-art advice on elderly-friendly designs and living conditions?</p><p>Yes, Overton said, these examples of collaboration could and should be under consideration.</p><p>What's more, could this project serve as an economic-development initiative? Could it be a model for cooperation in fund-raising, involving the Pines' foundation and other philanthropic groups? How could the public sector contribute through funding, to meet pressing social needs, or in-kind services and political support? Could it be a national model for community collaboration?</p><p>I don't know the answers, but am confident the questions are worth asking.</p><p>Tom Tryon is opinion editor. Tom.Tryon@heraldtribune.com.</p>